Word of the Day

: December 2, 2009

pundit

noun PUN-dit

What It Means

1 : a learned person : teacher

2 : authority, critic

pundit in Context

Grandpa likes watching liberal and conservative pundits spar about the issues of the day on the Sunday morning talk shows.

Did You Know?

The original pundits were highly respected teachers and leaders in India. Their title was taken from the Hindi word "pandit," a term of respect for a wise person that itself derives from the Sanskrit "pandita," meaning "learned." English speakers began using the form "pundit" specifically to refer to those Hindu sages as long ago as the 1600s. By the 1800s, they had also extended the term to refer to other sagacious individuals, and now "pundit" is often used with a hint of sarcasm to refer to informed opinion makers (such as political commentators, financial analysts, and newspaper columnists) who boldly share their views (sometimes at great length) on just about any subject that lies within their areas of expertise.